AN airshow in Salisbury has been cancelled due to safety concerns.

It was hoped the event planned for Old Sarum airfield in September would form part of the airfield’s centenary celebrations.

But new safety regulations mean holding the show will not be practical, organisers said.

A statement on the airfield’s website reads: “It is with heavy heart that we must announce that Old Sarum Airfield will no longer be hosting an air show in September as was hoped.

“Slipstream, the company responsible for our very successful 2015 event, now believe it will be impossible to stage a similar event this year.

“As a result of new regulations put in place following a number of major incidents at air shows throughout England in the past two years, we are sadly unable to comply with the extremely high and complex risk assessment needs that would allow Slipstream and ourselves to put on the show we would like to.

“Rigorous risk assessments have been undertaken and we are sadly the victims of our past popularity.

“These regulations define anyone outside of the airfield but still taking up a vantage point within the display area ‘at risk’.

“The only way for us to ensure that no-one falls within this category would be to take control of any space within the display area, to cater for these viewers’ safety.

“However, this would include commanding control of the busy adjacent road network, our neighbours at Old Sarum Castle, Bishopdown and its country park.

“Understandably, with these regulations in mind, we cannot plan for the safety of the people in these areas and therefore the show would not comply with these new conditions.

“Sadly, these are things outside of our control. We have looked at ways to co-ordinate control of these areas, but ultimately believe that it is impractical. Without such assurances, we simply cannot go ahead.

“Whilst we were hoping that the proposed show would help us commemorate the centenary of the airfield, we will be sure to look for other ways top mark this milestone in our history.”